In his State of the Union address, President Obama laid out a Blueprint for an America Built to Last, calling for action to help responsible borrowers and support a housing market recovery. As reported on the white house website, "While the government cannot fix the housing market on its own, the President believes that responsible homeowners should not have to sit and wait for the market to hit bottom to get relief when there are measures at hand that can make a meaningful difference, including allowing these homeowners to save thousands of dollars by refinancing at today’s low interest rates. That’s why the President is putting forward a plan that uses the broad range of tools to help homeowners, supporting middle-class families and the economy."

While congress is divided on the merits of the plan and hotly debating the philospophical and long term economic impact of this blueprint, it is worth familizring yourself with the basic details to be fully informed. The full plan can be read online [read full plan here] , or view below for a quick summary of the key aspects of the plan;

Key Aspects of the President’s Plan :

Broad Based Refinancing to Help Responsible Borrowers Save an Average of $3,000 per Year

• Providing Non-GSE Borrowers Access to Simple, Low-Cost Refinancing
• Eliminating appraisal costs for all borrowers
• Increasing competition so borrowers get the best possible deal
• Extending streamlined refinancing for all GSE borrowers

Homeowner Bill of Rights

• Simple, Easy to Understand Mortgage Forms
• No Hidden Fees and Penalties
• Assistance For At-Risk Homeowners
• Safeguards Against Inappropriate Foreclosure

First Pilot Sale to Transition Foreclosed Property into Rental Housing

• Help Stabilize Neighborhoods and Improve Home Prices

Moving the Market to Provide a Full Year of Forbearance for Borrowers Looking for Work

• 12-Month Forbearance for Mortgages Owned by the GSEs
• Move by Major Servicers to Use 12-Month Forbearance as Default Approach
• A New Industry Norm

Pursuing a Joint Investigation into Mortgage Origination and Servicing Abuses

Rehabilitating Neighborhoods and Reducing Foreclosures

• Giving Borrowers the Chance to Rebuild Equity in their Homes Through Refinancing
• Streamlined Refinancing for Rural America
• Streamlined Refinancing for FHA Borrowers
• Putting People Back to Work Rehabilitating Homes, Businesses and Communities Through Project Rebuild

Expanding HAMP Eligibility to Reduce Additional Foreclosures and Help Stabilize Neighborhoods

• Ensuring that Borrowers Struggling to Make Ends Meet Because of Debt Beyond Their Mortgage Can Participate in the Program
• Preventing Additional Foreclosures to Support Renters and Stabilize Communities
• Increasing Incentives for Modifications that Help Borrowers Rebuild Equity
• Triple the Incentives Provided to Encourage the Reduction of Principal for Underwater Borrowers
• Offer Principal Reduction Incentives for Loans Insured or Owned by the GSEs

2011 Market Watch: View Online Summary or PDF Full Report or eBook Report

All REALTORS are required to complete their quadrennial training no later than December 31, 2012.  RE33RC03, Real Estate Brokerage Professional Ethics, satisfies this requirement and also provides for 2 credit hours of Massachusetts Real Estate continuing education.  Real Estate laws in Massachusetts set minimum standards of legal conduct.  From the comfort of your own home, office or favorite wi-fi spot Jody O'Brien will demonstrate how ethical standards encompass higher principles and you'll learn how to be the best you can be!

Steve Ryan is General Counsel for the Massachusetts Association of REALTORS and is responsible for all of Legislative Affairs of the Association.  In addition to the legal assistance he provides to the Realtors and Association staff via the MAR Legal Hotline, Steve also works diligently to make sure the REALTORS are well represented on Beacon and Capital Hill.

Come and enjoy a buffet lunch and hear about the latest developments that the MAR is working on to benefit all REALTORS in Berkshire County.  Steve will regale us with true stories and FAQ's from the legal hotline and provide us with all the best ways to steer clear of pitfalls in the field!

This class covers not only federal fair housing legislation, but also Massachusetts specific laws, guidelines and requirements.  Learn about legal requirements affecting real estate agents in particular - and, FROM THE COMFORT OF YOUR OWN HOME, OFFICE OR WI-FI SPOT! 

This program will provide 2-credit hours of Massachusetts continuing education credit. 

SOS:  Staff Saves our Sanity!  Technology and Board Update Combo.

• February 15, 2012 at the Board Office @ 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. No cost for members 
• Please Register to Attend. 

1. Review of 2011 Market Watch / Talking Points:
2. Membership Report – How our 2012 renewal looks
3. Cloud Computing:  What’s all the buzz about? Includes description and practical uses of free services such as: DropBox, Online Backups, Google, Calendar / Address Syncs, Microsoft
4. FlexMLS Productivity!  How to set up your options so you can add a new contact and activate emails or portals in less than 10 minutes!
5. 3 things everyone should know about internet browsers.  (and how it can help you navigate so much easier!) 1. Difference between an address bar and search 2. Tabs, and how they work 3. Settings to save or clear passwords or history.
6. Other New Issues as they arise, and/or Open Q&A.

We've learned that some browsers are not prompting you to save your FlexMLS username or password, and members have to retype it each time they enter the system.  Here are basic instructions to get the "save password" option for different browsers you commonly use so you can "set it and forget it" (but write it down somewhere, please :).  If you're not sure which browser you use, give us a call and we'll try to help you figure it out!  Thanks, Board Office Staff

Internet Explorer:

• Start Internet Explorer.
• On the Tools menu, click Internet Options.
• Click the Content tab.
• Under Personal information, click AutoComplete.
• In the AutoComplete Settings dialog box, select the User names and passwords on forms check box (if it is not already selected), select the Prompt me to save passwords check box (if it is not already selected), and then click OK.
• Click OK again to close the Internet Options dialog box.
• Restart Internet Explorer, and then determine if the problem is fixed. If this did not fix the problem, proceed to  Microsoft Password Support  for further options.

Mozilla Firefox:

• Open Firefox on your computer.
• Click on 'Tools,' then select 'Options' from the drop-down menu.
• Click the 'Security' tab to go to the security section.
• Check the box next to 'Remember Passwords For Sites.' This will cause Firefox to store your login usernames and passwords on Web sites that require them.
• If that didn’t work, try  going online for more solutions

Google Chrome:

• Click the wrench icon on the browser toolbar.
• Select Options (Preferences on Mac and Linux; Settings on Chrome OS).
• Click the Personal Stuff tab.
• Adjust your password settings in the "Passwords" section:
• Select "Offer to save passwords" if you want Google Chrome to prompt you to save your password every time you sign in to a new website.
• If that didn’t work, try going to  Google Support for more options

Apple Safari:

• Open up your Safari Web browser and choose 'Preferences' from the Safari pull down menu.
• Click on the heading 'AutoFill.'
• Click on the box next to 'User Names and Passwords.'
• Close the 'Preferences' window.
• Save Your Passwords
• Go to a Web page that requires a password and enter in your chosen password. Safari will then ask if you would like to save this password.
• Click on the button 'Yes' in order to save the password.
• If that didn’t work, read more about how to  Manage Passwords With Safari

Join us for a cup of coffee and an app swap - tell us what smart phone or ipad app you can't live without and why - and listen to what others are using.  You're sure to learn something, and enjoy a little down time with friends!

The 2012-2013 edition of the USPAO will be valid for two years, effective January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2013. The new edition includes the standards of professional practice for all appraisal disciplines as well as guidance from the appraisal Standards Board in the form of USPAP Advisory Opinions and USPAP Frequently Asked Questions. The effective date for this publication is January 1, 2012. This is the Required 7 hour USPAP Update.

Changes to the document include: 

-Revisions to DEFINITIONSOF "client", Extraordinary Assumptions" and "Hypothetical Condition" as well as a new definition of "Exposure Time";

-Creation of a new RECORD KEEPING RULE and related edits to the Conduct Section of the ETHICS RULE;

-Revisions to Advisory Opinion 21, USPAP Compliance; and

-Revisions to STANDARDS 7 & 8: personal property appraisal, DEVELOPMENT & REPORTING.

This SOS is being held in South County. Sandy Carroll, CEO of the Berkshire County Board of REALTORS, will be providing an overview of the latest industry topics including: current trends, useful technology, news and upcoming events! Don't miss out on this informative session. As always, a little java and a small pastry will round out the morning.

Please note:  Education is provided FREE to Berkshire County Board of REALTOR members.  However, space is limited.  Cancellations received less than one-week in advance and no shows will be charged $20 per class.  IF YOU KNOW you will not be able to attend a class, please call the Board Office immediately so we may offer your seat to those placed on our wait-list.  TTHANK YOU!

Please note: CE days that include the course, RE33RC11 - Real Estate Brokerage Professional Ethics for Residential and Commercial Real Estate Brokerages as the 3rd class of the day will go to 4:30 p.m. All other CE days, the 3rd class ends at 4:00 p.m.

Class Details Coming Soon!

For those who wish to serve on hearing panels in matters of ethics or arbitration, this training is required. All members of the Boards of Directors should also attend.

Sandy and Sue will teach in this interactive program. Come and watch some role playing games, participate in the outcome and see what pitfalls hearing panels are faced with but must avoid! This should be a quick, fun, three-hour program that will prepare you to assist your colleagues through the Professional Standards process.

FREE to our members!

RE33RC11 - Real Estate Brokerage Professional Ethics for Residential and Commercial Real Estate Brokerage given by Popular Instructor, Jody O'Brien. 

This course studies the ethical requirements mandated by the National Association of REALTORS® of its members to maintain the integrity of the Real Estate Profession.

This course reviews compliance with Market Regulations in website activities including email-based communications and addresses risk reduction, establishing a company internet and email policy and compliance with Fair Housing and Consumer Protection Laws with an overview on navigating various websites for emerging issues and pertinent information.

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